De Regenboog simply has to be included in our list of party hotspots. That is, if you don’t mind crowds, love a disco-inferno and of course are in for a party. Situated in the Van Oldenbarneveldtstraat - practically next to Central Station – a 5 minute walk away – and literally a few feet away from Strano.

When the heat turns up, why bother wearing pants or even clothes for that matter. Whether you’re sticking to light clothing or if you’re feeling brave and don't want wear clothes at all, here's a small list of places to keep in mind when things get too hot to handle.

Go for a swim!

On hot days when the thermometer doesn't show signs of going down, there are few things as refreshing as taking a cool dip in a swimming pool. Whether you’re wanting outdoor surroundings or you prefer something with a little more character, the next three swimming spots are perfect for beating the heat. 

Van Maanenbad  – Van Maanenbad, also known as Sportfunds Rotterdam Noord, is a unique outdoor swimming pool located in Noord. It is perhaps one of the city’s most famous swimming pools situated in the middle Rotterdam’s hustle and bustle. It is a hidden oasis where you can not only go for a refreshing swim, but can lounge under the sun to enjoy a good book. Click here for more information on this pool’s hours, services and fees.        

Oostelijk Zwembad – Located in the east of Rotterdam, Oostelijk Zwembad boasts the most character in this short list. Founded in 1932, it is the oldest swimming pool in the city. While preserving its authentic and historic accents, this pool has done a marvelous job in keeping up to date with the modern necessities of todays swimming pools. If that wasn’t enough, this swimming pool offers many activities ranging from swimming lessons to various Aqua sports. It even has a small cafe for that needed smoothie or iced late. Click here for more information on this pool’s hours, services and fees.           

Recreatiecentrum Oostervant – If you’re looking for situated in the west of the city, look no further than Recreatiecentrum Oostervant. It’s the perfect alternative that is centrally located if the heat is too far for your to bear. Click here for more information on this pool’s hours, services and fees.

Get naked!

Not meant for shy people the next two places are for those wanting to bare it all. (Pun intended.)           

Hoek van Holland is Rotterdam’s perfect get away when pants and clothes become too heavy to wear. It’s Rotterdam’s closest gay/nude beach. Young and old, this beach welcomes all wishing to feel the freedom of not wearing clothes and relaxing on the beach.

For the equally adventurous and not so mobile, Kralingse Plas, better known as Naaktstrand Rotterdam, is another destination. Leave behind the reputation of it of being a seedy affair and let it all it hang out. Accessible and not well known, this modest beach proves to be a hit with the not-so-fussy locals. Wherever you end up, we hope you're able to keep cool this summer and we encourage all visitors to play responsibly.  

If you’re familiar with the media landscape of our times, you’re no stranger to the spectacle of competition programs. In recent memory this is a format that has brought us everything from top chef and top drag queen competitions, to survivalist naked people on seemingly deserted islands. 

For a new series of voices we interview visitors to Rotterdam from all over the world. This time we spoke to movie director Marco Berger and actor Juan Pablo Cestaro, premiering their feature film at this year’s IFFR. The thriller is set around a 15 year old boy exploring his desires and getting entangled at the same time.

With everything being straight in the world, I want to see queer stories about love between men

Marco Berger 

Tiger time in Rotterdam
Every year at the end of January and beginning of February Rotterdam catches a case of ‘Tiger fever’ with it’s annual International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). With over 300.000 visitors, more than 200 feature films and 2400 attending film professionals from all over the world, it’s a festival that seriously celebrates film and the visual arts.This year we were lucky to speak to two professionals visiting Rotterdam from Buenos Aires – Marco Berger, a director who’s been making feature films since 2009 and the up-and-coming actor Juan Pablo Cestaro, who stars in Berger’s latest movie, El Cazador. We asked them what they think about Rotterdam, but more importantly what stories they have to share about their work and passions. Here’s what they had to say.

So to break the ice, what is your impression of Rotterdam?
Marco Berger (MB): It is the first time I am in Rotterdam and I really like it and am very impressed. To me it is similar to Bergen (Norway), where I lived for 3 years. It is modern and new, a bit smaller than I expected. We visited the Martkhal and went inside the Cube houses. And of course...IFFR. It is amazing to have my movie premier here and participate in one of the competitions. Juan Pablo Cestaro (JPC): It is my first time in Rotterdam too, the buildings and architecture are so great, different from Argentina. MB: and you like the girls too, right? JPC :(grins).

Marco, your movies have creative scripts and are often populated with sexy men (see overview). Each film has its own, very different, characters. Can you tell us a little bit more about the last two?
MB: With ‘The Blonde One’, I wanted to go far away from the previous movie I had made, ‘Taekwondo’ , which is a comedy so it became a drama. I think I had the script of ‘The Young Hunter’ before ‘The Blond One’, so it is a thriller and not a comedy. I like change. The next big project will actually be a comedy again and will be a love story.  Hopefully, in between, I can make a smaller independent film. Also important, I don’t pretend to make queer or gay movies. I make films that I'd like to see myself, and with everything being straight in the world, I want to see queer stories about love between men. There are many approaches to these gay themes, I don’t choose them on purpose. But I don’t like it when my work is framed as ‘gay’ or I'm reduced to a ‘gay film maker’. For me they are just films.

How are your movies received in countries in Latin America ?
MB: Really good. For instance about 10 years ago I released 'Plan B' in Cuba, which at that time still was a how shall I say, viewed as a "macho country". It was explosive. Actually a lot of women liked the film. I think it helps that I am not aggressive or provocative with my ideas about queer subjects. So even if you are a little homophobic and see my films a little change can happen. One can understand that it is about love over everything. Once, at a screening, a man who had seen 'Plan B' without knowing what movie was going to be about came up to me to confess, ‘I think I was very homophobic until now, but I watched the movie and feel I understand now and leave this theatre a different person’.

Scene from 'El Cazador / The Young Hunter'

Your latest movie 'The Young Hunter', deals with a sensitive topic, mostly because the actors in the story are - or are supposed to be - rather young. 
MB: It has a strong subject, but I made it in a delicate way. Had I made it more provocative I could have drawn more attention to the film. Instead, I wanted to make a smart film and have people think about the subject, not to run away from it. I really love portraying naked people and I have no problem with sex, but for this film in particular, that was risky. I am actually criticizing child pornography. Even if one is showing an 18-year-old actor play a 14-year-old, what are you doing then? [Rhetorical] But, if I make a film about a naïve love story between two 14-year-old boys, then it is different. I could then make it sweet about a relationship and maybe nakedness. With 'El Cazador' I did not want it to be a snake that eats it’s own tail. The main character is not a fragile boy, he is more like the character in my earlier movie ‘Ausente’ - a strong character that's looking for sex. In this film, he starts out as a child, but he is also an animal. He becomes a hunter. The experiences he has in this movie and consequences of the choices he makes are what he will always carry with him.

Juan Pablo Cestaro as Ezéquiel

A question for Juan Pablo, how did you experience being in this movie?
[The casting is still fresh on his mind] JPC: It was challenging and beautiful at the same time. I have worked in theater since I was 15 and have always dreamt about being in movies. I started auditioning from the age of 18 after I finishing college. It was a challenge applying the techniques I had learned. With this role suddenly all the things I had been hoping for materialized. For me was like the culmination of a beautiful storm. My take on Ezéquiel – the main role – is that he doesn’t have much of choice. He feels he is forced into certain actions. In my life I have choices, but this character doesn’t have that option, he hasn’t come out yet. My take was to approach the role it with empathy and try to find a place in myself that could relate, it was difficult, but it worked.

What about future plans for both of you?
JPC: I am working on a monologue that I will perform in Buenos Aires in July. I need to be on stage for 60 minute so it requires a lot of rehearsing. Meanwhile I'll also be scouting for work. Life as an actor is not so predictable. If I do a casting next month and things works out I may suddenly have to travel to Spain. Who knows? Maybe I'll get to work Almodovar in the future. 

MB: There are many things I am interested in and I have several ideas. For instance about the Malvinas war in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom, what would it be like if I was a soldier and fell in love? There is an actual script finished. I can not tell you everything, but let's call that project, ‘The Astronaut’. I plan to make it a comedy. The ideas is to play on that fear that some straight people have about being gay. It is challenging, because good comedy is actually much more difficult then drama.’ Berger explains: ‘There will be a stronger emphasis on dialogue but comical. I always say my films can be played by any actor, however, for this script casting is key. I typically scout for young and handsome actors, but for this project delivery is very important. I have my sights set on someone who is really sharp and handsome. This is all still in my head. I'm thinking of shooting in spring 2022. Maybe I will make and independent movie in-between.   

We will certainly be looking forward to this. In the meantime you can enjoy most of Berger's movies by ordering them on DVD via the big online stores, or try your luck at the local music or gay stores.

At GayRotterdam we think that we are lucky with such interesting visitors and this festival. We like to show and portray visitors to Rotterdam for our website more often. So if you know of someone visiting for a special occasion, please let us know in the contact form of via our social media. 

There’s no question that Rotterdam is a fantastic city. With about two million regional inhabitants made up of nearly 200 different nationalities, Rotterdam has an international profile worthy of attention. However, adding more shine to the city these days is news of Rotterdam ranking 3^rd in top cities in the world to be LGBTQ.